Bridging parental acceptance-rejection theory and attachment theory in the preschool strange situation

Parental acceptance-rejection theory (PARTheory) and attachment theory evolved independently but along parallel lines, creating many similarities but also significant differences. This article is the first attempt to describe these similarities and differences, and to test expected linkages between theories using attachment theory's Preschool Strange Situation procedures. Results of analyses showed that PARTheory's parental behavior measures were highly correlated with a number of attachment theory's parental behavior measures. Included here was a strong positive correlation between PARTheory's main construct of parental acceptance, and attachment theory's main construct of maternal sensitivity. In addition, expected linkages between parental behavior and child attachment classifications were shown using measurements drawn from PARTheory. Results provide strong support for the value of continuing to explore conceptual and empirical links between theories. [parental acceptance-rejection theory, attachment theory, Preschool Strange Situation, caregiving].